Common Oral Bacteria Tied to Brain Microbleeds, Stroke Risk
Higher numbers of deep and lobar cerebral microbleeds were found in stroke patients who had Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) that were positive for the collagen-binding protein Cnm in their mouths. The study was published on January 27 in the European Journal of Neurology.
Cnm-positive S. mutans induce cerebrovascular inflammation, impair the blood-brain barrier, and cause brain bleeding, wrote the authors, who are from Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. Since cerebral microbleeds affect the long-term prognosis of stroke patients, reducing the bacteria in the oral cavity may serve as a new treatment for stroke patients.
"Cnm-positive S. mutans was significantly related to the presence of >10 CMBs (cerebral microbleeds), a predictor of future ICH (intracranial hemorrhage), ischemic stroke, and mortality," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Satoshi Saito, PhD, of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Suita, Japan.
Approximately 90% of the general population has S. mutans in their oral cavity. The pathogen, which lives in dental plaque, is best known for causing tooth decay. Dental bacteria, including Cnm-positive S. mutans, cause infective endocarditis. Microbleeds in the brain precede intracerebral hemorrhage in infective endocarditis, according to the study...
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Cnm-positive S. mutans induce cerebrovascular inflammation, impair the blood-brain barrier, and cause brain bleeding, wrote the authors, who are from Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. Since cerebral microbleeds affect the long-term prognosis of stroke patients, reducing the bacteria in the oral cavity may serve as a new treatment for stroke patients.
"Cnm-positive S. mutans was significantly related to the presence of >10 CMBs (cerebral microbleeds), a predictor of future ICH (intracranial hemorrhage), ischemic stroke, and mortality," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Satoshi Saito, PhD, of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Suita, Japan.
Approximately 90% of the general population has S. mutans in their oral cavity. The pathogen, which lives in dental plaque, is best known for causing tooth decay. Dental bacteria, including Cnm-positive S. mutans, cause infective endocarditis. Microbleeds in the brain precede intracerebral hemorrhage in infective endocarditis, according to the study...
Click Here To Read More